Installing xp pro safely?

[LegionX]

hi
i installed xp pro on a secondary system and before i could do all the updates and such somehow i got the virus that was going arround that has been going arround the last few months. i didnt do anything but go to the manufatcurers websites to download the drivers(msi) and do the updates through ms.

i am getting 2 new drives today and am kind of worried that i will get nailed before i can get the patches all safely in.

so how can i get my system up and running the safest way ?

thanks

 

[TJ69]

If you're truly paranoid, download all the patches and burn them onto a cd or copy them to a spare hd. Install xp without the network connected and update the sytem.

Personally, I wouldn't worry about it. Just install windows updates as soon as the install completes.

 

[bacillus]

before you go onto the internet with your fresh install of xp, turn on the xp firewall & install this patch which you saved onto floppy or cdr beforehand.
after that go onto the windows update site for critical updates.
you should also install some antivirus software!

 

[WobbleWobble]

Throw yourself behind a router or activate the XP firewall then go online.

 

[LegionX]

thanks for the help
and i am not being paranoid... like i said i loaded up my secondary comp a month ago and got the worm without even doing anything but updating and installing drivers.

dont realy care about that on that computer since it isnt critical to me and i removed the worm but honestly dont want that trouble this time on my main comp.

really hard to put money into a router since i dont network. so i will install that patch and anything else i can including zone alarm and nortons before i hook up to the net.

thanks again

 

[timswim78]

If you can do a low-level format on your hard drive, do it. Viruses can sometimes stick around, even after a regular format.

 

[bsobel]

If your on a network (dsl, cable, etc), put yourself behind the cheapest Linksys (or whatnot) router box you can find (should be about $25). Alternately (and for dialup also), enable the built in firewall or install a third party one from CD before plugging the network cable (or phone line) in.

Bill

 

[Smilin]

828930 How to Integrate Product Updates into Your Windows Installation Source
http://support.microsoft.com/?id=828930